Tucked away within the artwork room of the Nationwide Audubon Society’s New York Metropolis workplace lies a treasure trove: practically each single problem of the group’s journal ever printed, certain in thick volumes. Earlier than I started my editorial fellowship in January 2024, I didn’t know Audubon journal dated all the best way again to 1899, when it was first printed below the title Hen-Lore. Quickly, I might develop into considerably of an skilled on these data.
My fellowship turned out to coincide with the magazine’s 125th anniversary. In my first week, I sat with the editorial crew flipping via previous points, looking for themes and attention-grabbing angles to have a good time the milestone. We mused about antiquated birding recommendation, had been charmed by endearing previous letters from readers, and realized how pivotal moments in historical past formed the journal’s focus.
It was an eye-opening expertise, particularly as an early-career journalist who’s lengthy been fascinated with birding tradition. Birders, in some methods, have modified little because the early twentieth century. Many issues felt acquainted: Jokes concerning the character quirks of birds such because the Ruffed Grouse. Spirited debates about pictures ethics. The awe of seeing a Northern Gannet colony. And but, a lot concerning the world has modified, whether or not the expertise at our fingertips or our rising footprint on our surroundings.
As our crew formulated a plan to capture this physique of labor, I took on the duty of cataloging every problem’s cowl—its topic, photographer or illustrator, location, and extra. With no digital archive of the journal prior to the mid-2000s, our thought was to get a snapshot of what was deemed cover-worthy via the years. An easy train. We thought it would take a few days.
But beginning with the very first problem of Hen-Lore, time started to slide away. After per week, after I reached the Nineteen Fifties (or was it the ‘60s?) the many years blurred, then form shifted. Black-and-white covers burst into full shade. Dispatches from yards and native parks grew to become longer options about habitat destruction and conservation—first largely throughout the nation, then around the globe.
Greater than 700 entries later, we not solely had a database of Audubon’s covers, however I additionally got here away with a deeper understanding of how environmental journalism and the broader conservation motion has advanced. All through, birds bonded folks collectively, impressed artwork, and compelled us to assume critically about our connection to the planet. Right here’s what we discovered.